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Split personality, I fake being smart

Well, checked gas in reservoir, ZERO in one side and 26psi in the other.
Checked another set, 22psi each side ???
Usual pressure is around 100psi~150psi
Shocks are getting stripped in the morning
I'll find out whats in the reservoir and base gas pressure on piston or bladder compression damping, probably start around 50psi if its a piston type
I'll take some pics of the internals as I can't find the re-build online anywhere

Putting boot to ass since 1967!

New spring bases look great PJ! Very beefy, doubt you'll have breakage issues whilst catching wicked air! heh
I think the set here was sitting at 70-ish psi but very low on fluid, lots of air in the main body...which unless I'm completely off my nut goes against the whole external reservoir bit. I'll have to dig'm up again....

Split personality, I fake being smart

Got shock apart, had to make a few special tools and will need to order a couple of things to put them back together.
Had a hell of a time getting bladder out, managed to break Schrader valve off reservoir top (knew I should have removed it before I started)
Luckily, the bit fitted into reservoir is 8 x 0.75mm thread so I can modify a standard 'bolt in' tyre valve. (after I get the Loctited bit out :)
Schrader is a real weird size, 7.7mm x 0.394mm pitch, only found one tap online, 70 POUNDS (about $110.00) so I ain't getting one of them

Quite surprised, they are not so badly made as I had expected, just not assembled too well.
They do have a shim stack and are probably a knock off of something more expensive
No pics yet, maybe in morning.
Swagger, thanks for pressure info, it will make a good starting point, any thought on suspension fluid?
I was thinking 7.5~10 wt with 75~100psi or 5wt with 50psi?
Rocan, looking at pics won't make you an instant expert on suspension (just letting you know before you start telling people how to fix shocks and set up suspension )

Putting boot to ass since 1967!

I was reading one kats thoughts and he said 10wt (using fork oil iirc) a couple times and 125psi.
I read a forum post saying 12.5 mixed and 100psi.
I bet it's gonna be a trial and error thing. Seems like everyone thinks they are pretty stiffly sprung though......

I got a Ducati 999 (showa) rear shock and it needs to have some factory service (one of the adjusters is completely shagged...like someone used an impact driver on it or something equally ridiculous) but the fluid in it felt like 2wt mister oil!

New Member

wow! i pull shocks apart all the time and they are never that involved! i have used gas charged shocks on snowmobiles in the past but never on a bike, i do love how they work. i just spent the past hour going though your thread again, man i love how you point out the little things while building the motor, things like how the bee hive springs go in the heads... thank you!

New Member

If im not mistaken the pressure in the bladder should not affect your valve damping. The pressure in the bladder is meant to prevent foaming of the oil. i believe 125 maybe 150psi is the norm for shock bladders.

Split personality, I fake being smart

Your right, the gas has no effect on the valving
The gas charged bladder provides compression damping as well as displacing air from the system. (gives the piston something to 'push' against, in a basic shock the bottom of cylinder is sealed)
The damper rod takes up space and causes the bladder to compress as it displaces oil from main cylinder.
Usual pressure on most shocks I work on is 142psi.
The gas pressure does help to extend the shock and does make 'spring' heavier.
A lower pressure and thinner oil although it will reduce damping, will also reduce the amount of 'spring'
I'll see if I can find a better explanation with some pics.

Split personality, I fake being smart

Yep, I made a pair today, (slightly different design, plus shorter)
Took just about entire day (from cutting 2 x 4" long pieces off a 12" bar I bought, (got wrong size, 2.5" dia means a lot of cutting :)
I've checked they fit shocks, looks dam good on shock (forot to take pic) also weighed them (8.7oz ;D)
At least 10 hrs total time